Quilting 101 – Getting Started

Well as you know I have been quilting like crazy this past week making blankets for Project Linus, the charity that donates blankets to those in need.  Our chapter of Project Linus donates to both of the hospitals in our area and to the Child Advocacy Center.  Also, I have had several friends and acquaintances loose their homes in the tornado that hit Joplin this past week and have been working on making quilts for them as well.

Several friends have asked me to teach them to quilt in the past and there seems to be a renewed interest this week as everyone is pulling together to help out those in need.  So to get things started I have made a list of the items that you will need to make your quilting journey easier. 

 

Supply List

Sewing Machine (unless you want to stitch everything by hand)
Scissors
Rotary Cutter
Cutting Mat (self healing mats cost a little more but are worth the investment)
Klutz glove
Rotary ruler – these come in different sizes and you can also buy them in shapes like squares, diamonds, circles, half circles, etc.
Straight pins AND Safety pins (Large)
Thread
Darning needle and one sewing needle
Seam ripper
1 skein of yarn (Walmart has them on sale for $1.00 at this time)

and of course material and batting.

I would imagine that everyone already has a sewing machine, scissors, and a seam ripper as these things can be purchased in a starter sewing kit.  The other items are necessary, but you don’t have to spend a fortune buying them.  I personally do not use a Klutz glove, but I have been known to cut myself while using the rotary cutter.  It is a safety glove designed to be worn on the hand that is holding the ruler.

You will want to match your thread as closely as possible to your project making sure that you are using quilting thread.   Quilting thread is heavier than your basic mending/all purpose thread, but lighter weight than upholstery thread.  I tend to match my thread more to the backing material than to the quilt top although the two should be somewhat coordinated; however, white thread always works and matches everything.

For our first project we are going to use a 6 inch square.  I bought a kit at Walmart that had several squares ranging from 4 inches up to 12 inches, you can buy the kit if you would like, but you can also use a metal ruler and follow the lines on your cutting mat or a rotary ruler .  Now don’t go overboard buying fabrics at this point.  We are going to make our first quilt out of scrap fabric.  Some you have scraps and some don’t.  If you don’t have any scrap fabric, go to your local fabric store and buy scraps out of the remnant bin or buy a few fat quarters or even a jelly roll, which is fabric cut into 2 1/2 - 3" strips, but make sure you have different shades from dark to light and interesting patterns.  Remember that fabric will look different when it is cut into smaller pieces and assembled next to other fabrics, so don’t judge the fabric at first glance.  Try many different patterns and colors.

This project is going to be a version of the “split rail fence” design using left over strips of fabric that have been saved from numerous other projects.  The fabric that I am using was donated by a lady in Washington state to help out our efforts to make blankets for Project Linus.  (The quilt example in this lesson will be donated to Project Linus)

Step 1 – If you don’t already have strips, cut your fabric into 2 -2 ½ inch strips.  Sew the strips together using a ¼ inch seam.  You can sew them together in any order that you find visually appealing.  For this pattern you will sew 4 strips together.  If you are using scraps, please know that the strips may not be exactly 2 – 2 ½ inches.  You may have some bigger or smaller, but after sewing the strips together, they need to measure 5 ½ to 6 inches depending on the size of the square that you are using.  Each square should have four rows for this pattern.

Step 2 – Once you have sewn your strips together you will need to iron the seams making that the square lays flat.  Then use your square ruler or rotary ruler to make a 5 ½ inch or 6 inch square.   I used the six inch square for this project.

Step 3 – You are going to sew the squares together alternating the direction of the strips.  The first square for your first row will be horizontal, then the next square will be vertical, then the next horizontal, etc, until you row is the length you desire.  On the second row your first square will be vertical, then the second one horizontal, etc.  You goal is to have each square going the opposite direction of the square that it is next to.

Step 4 –  Once you have assembled your rows of squares you are going to press your seams all in the same direction.  This makes it easier to quilt and makes the quilt to lay flat.

Step 5 –  Next, sew your strips together using a ¼ inch seam.  Repeat this step until all the rows are sewn together. Then press the new seems all in the same direction.

**You can stop at this point if you are happy with your quilt top.  Some quilters like to sew an additional edging around the quilt to “frame” it, but this step in unnecessary for our project since we are using scraps.

Step 6 – You are going to lay your quilt top on top of your backing fabric RIGHT sides together and trim your backing fabric 2 inches wider than your quilt top.  Then lay both pieces onto the batting with the layers being: quilt top, backing fabric, batting from top to bottom, and then trim the batting to the size of the backing fabric.

Step 7 – Use your large safety pins to pin all three layers together.  This will prevent slipping while sewing the layers together.  You will sew around three of the edges completely using a ¼ inch seam.  When you get to the fourth edge, sew 4 inches from one corner and then back stitch.  Move down the edge approximately 5 inches and start sewing again, back stitching at the beginning and then sew all the way across the rest of the quilt. 

Step 8 – Trim the fabric around all of the edges so that your edges all meet the edge of the quilt top.  Be sure to trim and round the corners.

Step 9 – Turn your quilt right side out through the opening you left on side 4.  Pull the corners out using a straight pin.  Then fold down the edges of the opening and use a whip stitch to close the opening.

Step 10 – Ok, we are not going to quilt this with thread, we are going to do a traditional “tie” quilt.  You will need to cut your yarn into 6 inch pieces.  Then thread the darning needle with the yarn piece.  You can measure exactly or eyeball your thread tie placement.  I recommend putting the ties in approximately 4 -6 inches apart. 

You will insert the needle through all three layers of the quilt.  Then back through approximately ¼ inch from where you brought it up.  Tie your two end pieces together in a knot and then trim the yard down to the length you desire (approximately 1 inch would be good).

Now you have your finished quilt!  I hope you have enjoyed this project.   Please check back for other sewing ideas.

Happy Sewing!

The History of Quilting

The other night my son and I were reading a book that we had picked out at the local library titled “The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom,” by Bettye Stroud, and it made me wonder about the history of quilts.  In the book it talks about how each individual quilt block represented a specific sign or action that the runaway slaves were to look for or do in their journey to freedom.   This children’s book is based on a book written by Jacqueline Tobin and Dr. Raymond Dobard, “Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad”, which I intend to check out and read immediately.

I was going to post information on the history of quilting, but there are already so many sites and articles available for you to find this information over the internet that I decided that instead of regurgitating information already available, I would make a list of websites that have the information regarding the early beginnings of quilting.  I am sure you will find them all very interesting.

The History of Quilting – This one is by far my favorite article. – PDF format

History of Quilting - Wikipedia

America’s Quilting History

These are only a few sites that have quilting history. I have found that they all have similar information, but the one that I enjoyed the most was the PDF file.  I found that it not only provided information about the different types of quilts from our past, but it also provided pictures of the quilt patterns making this article more informative that the other sites that I have found and/or listed above.

This week we will be discussing quilting, what tools are needed to create a quilt and how to get started making your own quilts.  I hope you find this information useful and fun!

Happy Sewing!

This past week...

Again I would like to apologize for not posting information for you this week.  I have been working like a mad woman making quilts for the victims of the Joplin, MO tornado that wiped out half of the city.    Below are a few pictures of the damage that was done to my friend's home and the town in general.

Our good friend's uncle was sleeping in his bed when the tornado sirens went off.  She told us that he grabbed the side of the mattress and flipped it over on top of himself.  You can see the mattress in the tree on the right side of this picture.  That tree is in the neighbors yard.  He survived and is doing fine.  Thank god for all those who made it through this horrible storm and please say a prayer for those who didn't make it and those that are still missing.

This is the pet that lived in the house in the picture above.  His name is Sammy.  They found him alive after the tornado, two days of rain and a bulldozer had been over this area.  This is just one tiny survivor but he gives hope to others who may have lost their pets in this horrible storm.

I am adding two links to my blog.  One is for a local Springfield company called Big Fish Screenprinting - the link is posted on OzarksFirst.com.  They started making t-shirts to sell in order to raise money for the Joplin Area Relief Fund.  The shirts are $10.00 and $7.00 of it goes to the fund.

Hope For Joplin - T-shirts

The second link I am posting is one from Mizzou (University of Missouri) who has partnered with the Heart of Missouri United Way.   The shirts say "One State, One Spirit, One Mizzou".  These shirts are $14.95 and all funds will go to the "United for Joplin" campaign through the United Way.

MUTigers.com

There are several other sites out there selling Joplin t-shirts, but I could not find anything on their sites that stated that any portion of the proceeds were going to help the Joplin area.  Please be aware of this when you are purchasing your t-shirts.

THIS WEEKS POSTS

Please accept my apology for not posting this week.  We have friends and family who have lost their homes in Joplin, MO due to the massive tornado that ripped through that area this week.  We have been collecting items to take down, including donations from Project Linus.  The clean up efforts are underway even with the bad weather that keeps rolling in.  Please take a moment to say a prayer for those 1500 people who are still missing.

I will post again soon.

God bless.

Yo-yo Door/Window Treatment

Ok so you still have a ton of yo-yos that you made when preparing for your quilt top and you are wondering what in the world are you going to do with them...  Well here is another yo-yo idea.  You can use them for a door or window treatment!

You will need the following supplies for this project:

Yo-yos of any size
Ribbon
Needle/Thread





The first step is figuring out if you are making curtain strips, a valance or a door treatment (kinda like the beads that people hang but without the noise!).  Then determine how long to make your strips of of yo-yos and ad two inches on to that number.  Then follow the steps below to finish your project:

1.  Fold down the top of the ribbon 2 inches and sew it down making a loop.  This is what you will use to hang the strip from a dowel rod or a curtain rod.

2, Start at the bottom of the ribbon and sew on the first yo-yo so that the bottom of the ribbon does not show.  You will need to sew it down in the middle and at the top and bottom as well so that it will hang correctly.

3. Once you have finished sewing your yo-yos onto the ribbon, hand the ribbon from your curtain rod.

4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 until you have the desired amount of window or door coverage.

This is another great project to do with your kids while watching your shows or a movie.

Happy Sewing!

How To Make A Yo-Yo Quilt Top - Part Two

In part one of this lesson we discuss how to attach your yo-yos to the quilting strips that you cut for your quilt top.  So now that you have attached all of you yo-yos, what next?

Supplies that you will need to finish this project:
sewing machine (or you can sew them by hand using a quilters running stitch)
iron/ironing board
scissors

Follow the steps below to finish your quilt top:
1.  Pin two of your finished strips right sides together.

2. Sew strips together - 1/4" seam allowance.

3. Lay right side down on the ironing board and press seam to one side.

4. Turn over and make sure that your seam pressed out correctly.  Pressing the seam is a little more difficult due to the lumpy nature of this quilt top.

5.  Repeat steps 1-4 until all of your strips have been sewn together. 

Now you have a yo-yo quilt top!!

How To Make A Yo-Yo Quilt Top - Part One

Recently I have had the privilage of receiving donated materials from a few of my close friends.  Umong those items was a large bag of small pillow cases made out of cotton in various colors and patterns.  The yo-yos that were made for the previous projects came from this stash of material.  You can use any material you have on hand.  Recycling or reusing fabrics is the best way to get started on a project with minimal cost.  You can use any cotton fabric that is light weight.  Don't use thicker materials like denim, felt, wool or fleece.

I first got the idea for this project after receiving a catolog in the mail from Ethan Allen several months back.  They had a beautiful photo of a quilt that was made using yo-yos.  The quilt was cream, beige, sage green and light brown.  It was so beautiful that I showed it to my daughter and told her, "I can make one like this!".    She rolled her eyes at me because she knows how I get when a new project idea pops into my head.  Needless to say, here I am showing you how to make a yo-yo quilt top.

To get started you will need the following supplies for this project:
Pre-made Yo-yos (238)
2 yards of fabric
thread
scissors
rottary cutter
cutting mat
chalk pencil or washable fabric marker
*extra small embroidery hoop (optional)
***You can pick up these items almost anywhere they sell crafting supplies.  I buy most of my tools and supplies from Wal-mart.

***Pick you fabric that compliments the yo-yos that you have made.  Don't use any patterned fabric that would make the yo-yos visibly disappear or visibly confusing to look at.

These instructions are for a crib size quilt top.  Follow the steps outlined below to get started.

1. Using your cutting mat and rotary cutter, you will need to cut 17 - 3 1/2" strips.

2.  Lay your strips out on your cutting mat.  You will use your ruler and chalk pencil/fabric pen to mark the placement of each yo-yo.  Your first mark should be approximately 2 3/8" from the end of the strip.  Each mark after that, working from left to right, will be approximately 3 1/4" from the previous mark.

3.  Once you have marked your strips, you will tack the yo-yos onto the strip using the markings as your guide.  Place the yo-yo to the right of each mark with the mark being right next to the left edge of the yo-yo.  You can tack the yo-yos down with thread or you can use fabric glue.

4.  Next you will sew the yo-yos in place by hand using a quilting stitch.  I recommend that you also use a small embroidery hoop to keep the fabric stiff while sewing the yo-yo in place.

5.  You will repeat step 4 moving down the length of the strip.  Each strip holds 14 yo-yos.

The finished strips should look something like the photo above.  Don't worry if your stitches aren't perfectly spaced or the exact same size.  Even seasoned quilters don't stitch perfectly.  You could probably sew these onto the strips using a sewing machine if you would like the stitches to be perfect, but doing it by hand allows you to sit with your family while watching your favorite shows.  As I have said before, this is a great project to do with your kids as well!

I will post the instructions for assembling the quilt top tomorrow along with instructions on assembling and finishing the quilt. 

Happy Sewing!

Yo-Yos, Yo-Yos And More Yo-Yos!

Now that you have a million yo-yos made, I know you are wondering "What do I do with all these Yo-Yos?".  Well here is one idea.  These bags were pre-made and bought from Wal-mart.  The yo-yos were made using the small yo-you maker and then they were tacked onto the front of the bags.  These bags are great for the book store, library, small grocery run, etc. 

All you need to do is find a bag that you like,
use a chalk pencil or washable fabric marker to draw a design that you like and then start tacking the yo-yos to the front of the bag!  It is a very simple project that can be done while watching your favorite show or a weekend project with the kid!  They will love making these and then taking them to school to show their friends! 

Happy sewing!

Making YoYo's

Recently I was at one of the local quilting shops here in good old Springfield, Missouri and I was casually talking with another patron about needing something to do with my hands while I was watching TV at night with my family.   I always have a lot of unused energy, so doing something creative with my hands always seems to enable me to sit in one place for an extended period of time.  The lady that I was speaking to suggested that I make Yo-yos! 

I know I must have looked at her with confusion and I told her, "I don't know how to make yo-yo's".  She told me that it was very simple and that they could be used for a variety of different craft projects.  So I set out to find out how to make yo-yo's!!
There are two ways to make yo-yo's; 1. with a tool or 2. without a tool.  They both accomplish the same thing, but one is more time consuming than the other.  To make them without a tool, you must first cut your material into a circle, then press the edges down approximately 1/4 inch, then the rest is the same as using the yo-yo tool.  You weave a threaded needled in and out around the edge of the fabric and then cinch up the edge.  As I said, this take more time and has an additional step, so I vote for using the tool.

Now you can buy the yo-yo tool just about anywhere you can purchase crafting supplies: Walmart, Joann's, Micheal's, Hobby Lobby, etc.  I am sure you could even find them on EBay!!  The tool comes in various sizes depending on the size of the yo-yo you want to make.  I used is an extra large one that makes yo-yo's that are approximately 2 3/8" in diameter or roughly the size of a silver dollar.  The yo-yo tool cost approximately $6 to $8.00 (U.S). 
This is what the yo-yo tool looks like:



The yo-yo tool is plastic and it has two pieces that pop apart.




Now that you have your Yo-yo tool, what do you do with it?



First you will need to cut a piece of fabric into a circle, square or rectangle, that is larger than the yo-yo tool. 




Next you will pop the two piece of the yo-yo maker apart and place the material, right side down on the bottom piece of the yo-yo maker.  Then you will line up the straight line on the top piece with one of the knobs on the back piece. Then snap the top and bottom plates together with the fabric between the two pieces.


Now cut the fabric around the edge of the yo-yo maker leaving approximately 1/4 inch of fabric around the edge.







When you are finished cutting the fabric it should look like this:


Next you will use a needle and thread that has been knotted to sew around the edge of the material.  The yo-yo maker has notches in it and you will use those as your guide.  Holding the fabric down with your thumb, you will need to start from the top edge to the left side on one of the knobs going through to the back on one side of the notch and then come back through the other side of the notch.  Moving counter-clockwise around the yo-yo maker, you will repeat this step until you come back around to the knot.










Once you have finished  sewing around the edge, you will need to pop the plates apart and remove the top plate from the center of the material.  Then you will pull the thread and cinch the  material until it becomes the desired shape. 

The final step is to tack down the thread so that your yo-yo does not come apart.And then throw it into whatever container you are collecting them in and start your
next yo-yo!

 You will have fun making these and they are definitely something that you can do with you kids.  You can even make a contest out of it so see who can make the most while watching your favorite TV show or movie!

Check back soon for ideas on craft projects that use yo-yo's!


*** Note *** Use thin to regular thickness fabrics, not medium or thick fabrics (denim, felt, wool, etc).  Also, use strong sewing thread, no embroidery floss or any other decorative threads. 

History Of Sewing Machines

I started this blog because I have had several family members and friends ask me to teach them how to sew and specifically quilt. I find it interesting that they all say, "I can't sew" or "I can't quilt" and claim that it would be just too hard to do. I think this is because they are looking at the finished products that other people have sewn in the past and then just make that assumption that it is just too hard to do.

I on the other hand see things that I find interesting or intriguing and I think to myself "I can do that" and then I fly by the seat of my pants until I figure it out. I am not smarter or more talented than any of the friends or family that want to learn how to sew, I just don't take NO for an answer.

During the time that I was considering starting this blog I became interested in how sewing began. We all know that it started with the necessity to cover our bodies and protect ourselves from the elements. The earliest forms of sewing have been traced back to the Palaeolithic Era more commonly known as the Stone Age. During this time people used bones as needles and sewed together hides using various animal parts as their thread such as intestines and veins.

As with everything, sewing evolved over time, but the notion of modern day sewing with a machine was not realized until the 1800s. The first patent for the "sewing machine" was issued in 1755 to a German man named Charles Weisenthal, however it is unknown if he ever built a successful sewing machine. History shows that in 1834 an American named Walter Hunt invented the first sewing machine, however he never patented it.because he was afraid it would cause unemployment for dressmakers, tailors and the other textile trades that used the sewing skill to make a living.

In 1846 a patent was issued to another American by the name of Elias Howe, however he had trouble with his patent and in developing interest in the sewing machine. In 1850 Isaac Singer built the first successful sewing machine designed for commercial use and a patent war ensued when Mr. Howe sued Singer for patent infringement. Howe's patent was upheld by the courts and Singer was ordered to pay royalties to Elias Howe.

Today you can buy sewing machines made by several different manufacturers such as Singer , Babylock, Pfaff , Gammil and many more and almost all of them make specialty machines that embroider, quilt and sew many different specialty stitches.

In this blog we will explore many different types of sewing from hand-stitched embroidery and cross stitching to machine sewing garments and quilt piecing and using a quilting machine to finish a pre-pieced quilt. I will add written instructions along with video for you to follow along with and learn this fantastic skill.

Please let me know if you have any requests or if you have a specific sewing skill that you would like to learn and I will try to incorporate it as soon as possible.

Purpose

Recently I have been asked by many to teach them how to sew, however most of those who have asked live out of town and this has made getting together for lessons almost impossible.  I have decided that in order to be able to teach those who want to learn, it would be in everyones best interest to start a blog so that they can access the information that they want without having to drive all the way to my house to learn to sew.